Loading apparatus for tire-building machines



Nov. 8, 1949 F.,s. STERNAD EI'AL 2,437,196

LOADING APPARATUS FOR TIRE-BUILDING MACHINES Fi'Ied Aug. 7, 1947 M22755flank S'S'ZEEn d Jain: P-

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Nov. 8, 1949 F. s. STERNAD ETAL 2,487,196 LOADING APPARATUS FOR TI FiledAug. 7, 1947 RE-IBUILDING MACHINES s shetsshe'et 2 Novl 8, 1949 F. s.STERNAD ETAL 2,487,195

LOADING APPARATUS FOR TIRE-BUILDING MACHINES Filed Aug. '7, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 3 f 84 f 31 /aa' 72 98 F97 firm.

\ L f flab 1 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 LOADING APPARATUS FOR MACHINE sTIRE-BUILDING Frank S. Sternad, Cuyahoga Falls, and John P. Sapp, Kent,Ohio, assignors to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application August 7, 1947, Serial No. 767,062

This invention relates to loading apparatus for tire-building machinesand includes provision for applying an adhesive coating to tire buildingdrums;

The invention is useful especially in preparing tire building drums byproviding an adhesive or other coating to the margins thereof before thedrums are delivered to the fabric applying units of a tire buildingmachine, and is shown as employed in connection with the machine of ourU. S. Patent No. 2,319,643 in which a plurality of drums are conveyedintermittently past a plurality of stations at which work is performedthereon, the drums being carried between stations by a chain conveyorhaving carriages for supporting the drums.

An object of the invention is to provide for facilitating the loading ofthe drums on the carriages of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide for rotating andspraying the drums automatically as they arrive from a conveyor and fortransporting them and delivering them to the conveyor of .thetire-building machine.

Other objects are to provide for delivery of the cemented drums to thetire-building machine at the desired intervals and in the desiredangular disposition or attitude, and to provide uniformity ofapplication of the adhesive coatings.

' These and other objects will appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings,

Figs. 1a and 1b which are continuations of each other, are a plan viewof apparatus corresponding to and embodying the invention, parts beingbroken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1a.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Figs. 1a and 1b.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1a.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation taken on the plane 66 of Fig. 3, partsbeing broken away.

Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Referringto the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a conveyor whichreceives-the drums from the delivery end of the tire building machineafter the tires have been removed from the drums and delivers the drumsalong a curved path to the cementing apparatus. The conveyor has aseries of live rolls I l, arranged with their axes in.

8 Claims. (Cl. 154-9) a horizontal plane. Each live roll is driventhrough miter gears 12, I3 from vertical guide rolls II which in turnare driven by a sprocket chain l5 engaging a sprocket It on the verticalroll shaft. Between the live rolls are additional idle rolls 11. Theentire conveyor is supported by a frame 18 to which a guide rail 19 issecured by posts 20. The arrangement is such that the drums are conveyedin a direction substantially parallel to their axes, endwise, upon therolls II and I1 and between rolls l4 and guide rail 13. The conveyor isdriven by a motor 2| through a speed reducer 22, a sprocket 23 on thespeed reducer driving a chain 24 which drives a sprocket 25 on a shaft26 meshing with sprocket engaging chain i 5.

As one of the drums 30 approaches the end of the conveyor I0 it contactsa limit switch 3| (see Fig. 4). This switch operates to stop the motor2| and therefore the conveyor. It also simultaneously energizes asolenoid switch admitting fluid under pressure to the lower end of acylinder 32 causing a stop 33 to be raised in advance of the next drumin the procession thereby avoiding the frictional engagement of thefollowing drum with drum 3!]. Also, with advance of the stop 33, fluidunder pressure is admitted to the left end of a cylinder 34, as seen inFig. 3 to advance aplunger 35 to move the drum 30 laterally of theconveyor to the cementing mechanism.

Means is provided for rotating the drum about its axis during theapplication of cement thereto. For this purpose a frame 40 is providedhaving a horizontal shaft 4| journaled therein. Cradle rolls 42, 42 anda sprocket 43 are secured to the shaft. A motor 44 drives sprocket 43through a chain 45. Fulcrumed upon shaft 4| is a yoke 46 having bearingsfor cradle rolls 41, 41. A vertical cylinder 48 is pivotally supportedat 49 from frame 40 and its piston rod 50 is pivotally connected to theyoke 46. The arrangement is such that when plunger 35 advances a drum,the drum takes a position where it rests upon the cradle rolls 42, 41and is rotated thereby about its axis, andwhen cradle rolls 41, 41 areraised, the drum is rejected by the cradle rolls.

Cementing of the drum 30 takes place while it is being rotated by thecradle rolls 42, 41 the cement being delivered onto the drum by spraynozzles 50, 50.

Between the cradle rolls 42, 41 and the receiving end of the'conveyor 52is an inclined runway 53 having side rails 54. The conveyor 52 has aseries of drum-supporting carriages 21 spaced therealong and havingcradle rolls 55, 56 on each carriage for supporting a drum anddelivering it to the tire building stations step by step. It isessential that the drums from the runway 33 be delivered only as acarriage 21 arrives at the end of the runway as in Fig. 3.

For retaining the drums on the runway 53 until time for deposit of adrum upon a carriage 21, a swing frame 60 is pivotally mounted uponpedestals 3|. At one end of the swing frame is a horizontal shaft 62 onwhich are rotatably mounted a pair of rubber-tired wheels 33, 54. Thesewheels in their lowered position, shown in full lines in Fig. 3,obstruct drums 30 from leaving the runway 53 and in their raiseddot-anddash line position of Fig. 3 permit a drum to roll onto aconveyor carriage. As a carriage 21 arrives in receiving position, asshown in Fig. 3, swing frame 50 is raised and a drum is deposited upon acradle 21. The swing frame 60 is controlled in its movements by an arm05 thereon operated by a chain 66 which is connected to an operatingsolenoid |02. The solenoid I02 is energized by a limit switch I00 on thefirst tire building unit of the tire building machine and is closedwhenever the conveyor stops and the chucking members advance to chuck adrum at that unit.

The mechanism is preferably controlled electrically and for thispurpose, referring to Fig. '1,

power lines 10, 1| are provided between which are connected a motorstarting circuit 12 for the motor 2| and a motor running circuit 13therefor, a motor starting circuit 14 for the cement sprayer and timerand a motor running circuit 15 therefor, a drum dumping circuit 16 foroperating cylinder 43, an operating circuit 11 for controlling operationof the pressure fluid operated cylinder 32, and a circuit 18 forcontrolling operation of the pressure fluid operated cylinder 34.

Referring to circuits 12, 13 of Fig. 7, circuit 12 includes the normallyclosed limit switch 3|, limit switch 82, normally held closed by plunger35 being in its retracted position, a foot-operated normally-open, butlatched in closed position, switch" 83 and a solenoid 84, while circuit13 includes a normally open solenoid operated switch 34a and a motorstarting solenoid 35 as well as normally closed limit switch 3|,previously mentioned. The arrangement is such that upon closing footswitch 33', provided switch 3| is closed by absence of a drum thereatand switch 82 is closed by retracted plunger 35, solenoid 34 isenergized closing switch 34a and starting motor 2| and conveyor |0. As adrum 30 reaches the end of conveyor |0 it opens normally closed limitswitch 3| stopping the motor 2| and conveyor l0. At the same time thatswitch 3| opens, a normally open switch 3|a mechanically connectedthereto, in circuit 11, closes energizing a solenoid 86 in that circuit,which admits fluid under pressure to the lower end of cylinder 32,raising stop 33 in the path of the following drums.

Cylinder 34 has its piston in a retracted position as long as a drum isresting on the cradle rolls 42, 41, as a drum in that position holds anormally closed limit switch 30 in circuit 13 open. Also a normally openlimit switch 3| in the same circuit is closed by the stop 33 only whenthe stop is in its raised position and a second normally open limitswitch 92 in that circuit is held closed by the plunger of the cylinder43 only when the cradle rolls 42, 41 are in their lowered position.

A solenoid 93 in circuit 18, when energized, operatos a solenoid valveto advance the plunger of the cylinder 34 and thereby advance a drum 30onto the cradle rolls 42, 41. The arrangement is such, however, thatsuch advance does not occur unless the stop 33 is raised, and the cradlerolls 42, 41 are empty and lowered. When the cradle rolls are loweredand empty, the stop 33 being raised, plunger 35 is advanced byenergizing of solenoid 33.

As a drum 30 is advanced onto the rolls 42, 41, limit switch 30 isopened and plunger 35 returns opening switch I03, limit switch 3| isclosed by absence of a drum at the end of the conveyor, limit switch 3|ais thereby opened lowering stop 33, and motor 2| is again started toadvance another drum provided that circuit 12 is closed. This requiresthat limit switch 32 be closed and consequently that stop 33 be in itsfully lowered position.

v As a drum 30 is deposited on rolls 42. 41 it contacts a normally openlimit switch 34 in circuit 14. This energizes solenoid 35 which closes anormally open switch 36 in circuit 15. Circuit 15 includes a normallyclosed limit switch 31, switch 38 and solenoid 33. Solenoid 33, whenenergized, starts a timer 30 which in turn controls motor 44 and sprays50. The timer is arranged to open switch 31 after a desired period oftime has expired. The arrangement is such that upon closing of circuit11 the rolls 42, 41 revolve the drum through several revolutions whilethe sprays 50, 50' spray a cement coating upon shoulders of the drum,and after the desired coating interval the spray valves are closed andthe motor 44 stopped. v

Dumping of the drums onto the runway 53 is controlled by circuit 18,which includes a normally open limit switch I00 adapted to be closed bythe timer at the end of its cycle and a footoperated latch-in switch|0|, in addition to a solenoid I02 which operates a valve to admit fluidto the lower end of cylinder 48.

The cemented drum rolls down the runway 53 until it contacts the wheels33, 64 which retain it upon the runway until a carriage 21 is inposition for loading. A carriage 21 reaches the loading position at thesame time that preceding carriages are stopped at the tire-buildingmachine stations and the drums thereon lifted and chucked by thechucking cones. As these cones are advanced, a sprocket IN to whichchain 66 is secured and which sprocket is fixed to rockshaft I03 whichcontrols movement of the cones. is rotated winding up chain 66 andthereby lifting wheels 63, 64 and permitting a drum 30 to roll onto thecarriage. As the cones are withdrawn preceding the next advance of theconveyor chain, the wheels 63, 64 are lowered to their normal position.

The apparatus has the advantage of uniformly cementing the drums andfeeding them one at a time to the conveyor 52 as required.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas it is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Loading apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire-buildingmachine, said apparatus comprising a driven cradle for rotating a tirebuilding drum, means at said cradle for applying a coating to a drum asit is rotated thereby, and means for feeding drums in succession fromsaid cradle to a tire building machine.

2. Loading apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire-buildingmachine, said apparatus comprising a driven cradle for rotating atirebuilding drum, means at said cradle for applying a coating to a drumas it is rotated thereby, an inclined runway, means for advancing drumsfrom said cradle to said runway, and means for feeding drums insuccession from said runway to a tire-building machine.

3. Loading apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire-buildingmachine, said apparatus comprising a driven cradle for rotating a tirebuilding drum, means at said cradle for applying a coating to a drum asit is rotated thereby, an inclined runway, means for advancing drumsfrom said cradle to said runway, including means for tipping said cradleto cause a drum to roll therefrom onto said runway, and means forfeeding drums in succession from said runway to a tire-building machine.

4. Loading apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire-buildingmachine, said apparatus comprising a cradle having driven rolls forretating and supporting a tire-building drum, means for feeding drums insuccession onto said cradle, means at said cradle for applying a coatingto said drum, timer means actuated by arrival of a drum on said cradlerolls for initiating operation of said coai ng applying means, a runway,and means operated by said timer for discharging the drum from saidrolls onto said runway.

5. Apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire building machinehaving a conveyor arranged to support tire-building drums thereon atintervals therealong, said apparatus comprising a drum coating unitcomprising means for rotating a drum about its axis, means for applyingacoating thereto as the drum is rotated. means for supplying aprocession of drums to said unit, means for feeding drums one at a timefrom said procession to said drum rotating means, and means fordischarging the coated drums one at a time onto said conveyor in timedrelation to movements of said conveyor.

6. Apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire building machinehaving a conveyor for advancing tire building drums step by step fromstation to station and having carriages thereon at spaced apartintervals for supporting said drums, said apparatus comprising a drumcoating unit comprising a cradle adjacent said conveyor for rotating adrum about its axis, and means for applying a coating to the drum as itis rotated, means for feeding afprocession of drums to said unit, meansfor discharging the coated drums from said unit. and means fordepositing the coated drums onto said conveyor in timed relation witharrival of the conveyor carriages at said unit.

'7. Apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire building machinehaving a conveyor for advancing tire building drums step by step fromstation to station and having carriages thereon at spaced apartintervals for supporting said drums, said apparatus comprising a drumcementing unit comprising a cradle adjacent said conveyor for rotating adrum about its axis and means for applying cement to the drum as it isrotated, means for feeding a procession of drums to a position adjacentsaid cementing unit, means for advancing drums one at a time from saidprocession to said cementing unit, means for discharging cemented drumsfromsaid cementing unit, and means for depositing the cemented drumsonto said conveyor in timed relation with arrival of conveyor carriagesat said cementing unit.

8. Apparatus for supplying cemented drums to a tire building machinehaving a conveyor for advancing tire building drums'step by step fromstation to station, and having carriages thereon at spaced apartintervals for supporting said drums, said apparatus comprising a drumcementing unit comprising a cradle adjacent said conveyor for rotating adrum about its axis and means for applying cement to the drum as it isrotated, means for feeding a, procession of drums to a position adjacentsaid cementing unit, means for advancing drums one at a time from saidprocession to said cementing unit, said advancing means being controlledby absence of a drum at said cementing unit, means for dischargingcemented drums from said cementing unit upon completion of cementingthereof, and means for depositing the cemented drums onto said conveyorcarriages in timed relation with arrival of said carriages at thedelivery and of said cementing unit.

FRANK S. STERNAD. JOHN P. SAPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the McChesneyFeb. 5, 1946

